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Ashwini Asana or Horse pose is an advanced yoga pose that is very beneficial for your body. The word Ashwa in Sanskrit means, horse. What is so special about the horse? It takes minimum from the society and gives the maximum. Its food is grass and water. In return, it has tremendous power for work. It serves its master well and gives maximum output. Presently, what is Mudra. To enable one to attain spiritual levels, twisting parts of the body in a specific manner is called a mudra.
This pose is so named after the way it is done. The anal contraction practiced during the pose is similar to the one done by a horse with its sphincter after it has evacuated its bowels. The asana is all about the contraction and relaxation of the buttock muscles, perineum, sphincter and the entire pelvic region.
How to go about doing The Horse Pose?
* Fold your legs in knees.
* Take the folded legs to the waist and press the thighs against the stomach. Lie in this position and contract and expand the anus. While doing so, continue with the normal breathing.
* The important aspect of this asana is complete folding of legs in knees and waist. As also, the calves need to touch the thighs.
* During the position, do not bend the back. Your knees should not come close to the mouth.
* After the optimum position of the asana is achieved, stop expansion and contraction of the anus.
* Slowly, straighten the legs in the anus and then straighten the legs in the knees.
Benefits of Horse position
Ashwini Mudra is compared to the expansion and contraction of the anus of a horse. It is meant to achieve the maximum movement of a specific position. This mudra atones up your pelvic muscles and organs. It caters to the well being of all those muscles and nerves surrounding the anus sphincters. The diseases of the anus and the rectum are specially taken care of by it. By the constant practice of this mudra, Pran and Apan vayus are activated. It contributes to your physical energy and you live a healthy and long life.
A word of caution!
Any healthy person can practice this mudra. But, women suffering from the problems of the uterus should do this asana only under consultation of an expert yoga teacher. Persons with the problem of fistula are not fit for it.
Ashwini mudra prevents escape of the pranic energy and redirects it inward. That assists the spiritual progress in an individual.
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